Junior Development

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Casino RSM’s Laine Toohey had a season for the ages in the Group One U14 competition scoring at least one try in all eleven of his matches to finish with nineteen tries for a strike rate of 173%. He also kicked conversions against Kyogle and South Grafton to finish the 2019 season with 80 points.

Laine Toohey scored a mid-season hat trick against Lismore Marist Brothers and late in the season added a further hat trick against Clarence Coast and scored doubles against Clarence Coast twice, Kyogle and Lismore Marist Brothers.

His other tries came against Kyogle, Ballina, South Grafton and Grafton.

Laine Toohey also played two Group One U15 matches in 2019

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Clarence Coast Magpies elusive Levi Cavanough continues to prove that he is one of multiple outstanding rugby league prospects in Northern New South Wales with another impressive season in 2019 to add to his growing resume.

For the Magpies Levi Cavanough played in thirteen Group One U15 matches including kicking a conversion in their 14 – 10 Grand Final victory over Ballina.

In total in his thirteen matches Levi Cavanough scored ten tries and kicked twenty goals to finish with 80 points. He scored doubles against Casino RSM twice and also scored against Lismore Marist Brothers twice, Ballina twice, Kyogle and Casino RSM.

With the boot he had an outstanding match in early August when he kicked seven against Casino RSM, also scoring in that match.

In 2019 also played six U16.5 Group One matches making his debut in early May against Marist Brothers Blue with his first points in the U16.5 competition coming in his third match against Casino RSM. Levi Cavanough scored two tries in the U16.5 competition being against Kyogle and Casino RSM.

2020 saw Levi Cavanough named as a reserve for the Northern Rivers Titans U16 Andrew Johns Cup squad.

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It appears that the GPS school boy rugby season will kick off on July 18 this year which is good news for a number of Titans such as Kaleb Ngamanu and Nic Hilton from TSS and Orlando Swain from Ipswich Grammar School amongst others.

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One player who will play a lot of matches when games kick off again in 2020 is Runaway Bay and TSS outside back Billy Wellard.

In 2019 Billy Wellard played for Runaway Bay in the U13 Division One competition as well as one match in the U14 Division One competition.

From a representative perspective, Billy Wellard represented the U13 Gold Coast Vikings side and was named in the U13 South East Queensland Development squad.

Billy Wellard also played for TSS in their U13A GPS school boy rugby side in 2019 starting matches at inside centre (No. 12), outside centre (No.13) and on the left wing (no. 11) and was particularly impressive mid-season scoring a double against Brisbane Boys College.

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Powerful young second rower Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu made a big splash for Burleigh in the GCRL U14 Division One competition in 2019, his first on the Gold Coast since his move down from Brisbane. In addition to playing for Burleigh Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu attends Keebra Park and is part of their junior age school boy program which is now linked to the Titans.

As a result of his outstanding performances for Burleigh, Keebra Park and in representative sides Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu signed a contract with the Titans in early 2020.

After performing well for the Gold Coast Vikings U14 side at the Hill Stumer Championships held at Ipswich, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started in the second row, specifically right second row for the South East Queensland White side at the Queensland U14 Age Championships.

At those Championships, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started all four of South East Queensland White’s matches in the second row and scored a double in their third against fourth 16 – 14 victory against Central.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu also scored in Game Three against South East Queensland Green to finish with a 75% strike rate, with his try against South East Queensland Green converted by fellow Titans contracted player Brock Lennox.

As a result of his performances for the U14 Vikings and South East Queensland White Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was named the 2019 Gold Coast U14 Representative Player of the Year.

For Burleigh in the GCRL U14 Division One regular season competition Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started the majority of his fourteen matches at right second row and scored eleven tries including a big four try effort in Round Eleven against Ormeau.

Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu’s remaining seven tries came in separate matches against Currumbin twice, Mudgeeraba twice, Helensvale, Ormeau and Beaudesert.

In Week Two of the 2019 U14 Division One Finals series, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started from the bench against Runaway Bay in a 40 – 6 win that that propelled Burleigh directly into the Grand Final.

In the 2019 U14 Division One Grand final Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu started at right second row and formed a lethal combination with Kalahni Lawrence and was rewarded with a try when he came back under his five eight to charge through a number of defenders to score adjacent to the right upright with the run accounting for fifteen metres and at least three broken tackles.

At the late September Gold Coast Rugby League Presentation Night, Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was named as the 2019 U14 GCRL Player of the Year, as well as the a fore mentioned representative Player of the Year.

In early October 2019 Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu was named on the bench for the 2019 Nga Hau e Wha Maori Tournament U14 Boys Merit Team after his impressive performances in the tournament.

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Titans contracted Keano Kini was part of the Auckland based Marist Saints side that toured Australian in July 2019 playing a number of matches including a match on the Gold Coast against a Keebra Park select side in prefect conditions on the Gold Coast at Keebra Park’s school campus. In that match Keano Kini kicked five conversions.

Keano Kini also started at half in another tour match against the Mudgeeraba Redbacks with Kenao Kini kicking six goals as Marist Saints defeated the Redbacks 48 – 0, with Keano Kini also recording a try assist, when operating on the right of the field, he held the ball up bueatifully to put the Marist Saints right centre away on a twenty metre run to to score.

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Titans Kaleb Ngamanu and Nic Hilton have got a tough match first up in the GPS First XV school boy rugby competition in July. After a Round One bye, the TSS First XV side are set to take on Nudgee College in Brisbane in Round Two.

They have a big match later in the season at Ipswich when they take on Ipswich Grammar School which will include Titan Orlando Swain.

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Brisbane based Easts Tigers (GBJRL) youngster Gary Whare- Herlihy early this year signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 performances in the black and orange of the Tigers and the Titans Logan based Academy.

Gary Whare- Herlihy was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh and post those round robin matches signed his contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons.

In 2019 Gary Whare-Herlihy played in the hooking role for the Easts Tigers in the GBJRL U14 Division One competition alongside fellow Titans contracted player Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy.

In 2019 Gary Whare-Herlihy also played for his Alexandra Hills State High School Boy’s side starting all of their matches at hooker once again alongside fellow Titans contracted student Zyroam Taurawa-Herlihy

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Gold Coast local young forward Wailer Whaiapu from the Southport Tigers and Keebra Park student early in 2020 signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 (and earlier) performances for the Tigers and in Gold Coast and South East Queensland U14 representative sides.

Wailer Whaiapu was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleighin early 2020 and post those round robin matches signed his contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons at the very least.

In 2018 and 2019 Wailer Whaiapu played for the Southport Tigers in the GCJRL U13 and U14 Division One competitions as well as for Keebra Park in their various school boy competitions.

In 2019 Wailer Whaiapu also represented the Gold Coast Vikings U14 representative side, being named on the bench at the Hill Stumner Championships that were held at Ipswich and post those Championships was named in the South East Queensland Green side for the Queensland U14 Age Championships, starting the majority of those matches against Central, Northern and South East Queensland White (twice) from the bench.

In 2018 Wailer Whaiapu (Year Seven) was named at lock in the Keebra Park Rugby League Team of the Year. Fellow Titans contracted player Te Haeta Takamore (Year Eight) was named on the wing in that side as well. In previous years the likes to Titans NRL squad member Tannah Boyd has been named in the Keebra Park Team of the Season.

Wailer Whaiapu is not just a talented sportsperson, he is also has showcased his academic aptitude by being involved in various school boy academic pursuits with Keebra Park State High School including in a National History competition in 2019.

Wailer Whaiapu moved over from Perth in Western Australia for the start of the 2018 season after being named in the Western Australian U12 school side in 2017 when he was a student at Ashburton Drive Primary School with Western Australia finishing sixth at the Championships

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Forest Lake State High School student and outstanding five eight or half back prospect Brandon Tikinau early this year signed a contract with the Titans for the next couple of season after his outstanding 2019 performances for the Forest Lake State High School Year Eight school boy side and the Titans Logan based Junior Academy.

Brandon Tikinau was also involved in the Titans U15 Academy matches at Burleigh and post those round robin matches signed his contract with the Titans which will see him part of the Titans JTS program for the next couple of seasons.

In 2019 Brandon Tikinau captained his Forest Lake State High School Year Eight Bronco’s Cup rugby league side that fell to Coombabah State High School in the final of that competition and was heavily involved in the majority of the good things that occurred for Forest Lake State High School in the match.

In the final Brandon Tikinau started the match at five eight, setting up Forest Lakes first try when after taking the ball to the left of the ball the ball before cutting back across the field making his way to the right of the play the ball and firing a long flat cut out pass (seriously it was just a flick of the wrist and the ball flew like a well-aimed bullet) to his right to allow his right centre to get outside his direct opponent from around five metres out from the line.

2019 also saw Brandon Tikinau start at half for the Ipswich Diggers U14 representative side at the Hill Stumner Championships with a team mate being fellow Titans contracted youngster Larry Siala, leading the Diggers side around the field assuredly.

After playing the 2017 (U12) and 2018 (U13) seasons with Logan Brothers in the Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League competition, Brandon Tikinau played the 2019 season with the Springfield Panthers in the Ipswich Rugby League U14 competition where he palyed against fellow Titans contracted player Larry Siala who played for the Norths Tigers.

In 2018 Brendon Tikinau was part of the Brisbane U13 Blue representative rugby league side and in 2017 Brandon Tikinau started at five eight for the Met West side at the Queensland U12 Primary School Boy Championships when he was attending Pallara State School.

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The Titans association with Keebra Park will pay dividends into the future but looking backwards the Gold Coast school is already a big contributor to the Titans NRL squad.

For the 2017 Keebra Park National GIO Cup wining side (they defeated Westfield Sport High 25-12), Tannah Boyd started at half and slotted a 53rd minute field goal and Ioane Seuili started at right centre scoring a key try off a Tannah Boyd pass in the first half. In addition, Titans contracted Lofi Khan-Periera started on the left wing and scored the first try of the match in just the 3rd minute when he flashed down the left wing to score in the corner.

In addition three other Keebra Park players from that match will play in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition when it gets back underway in July. Those three talented players and the positions that they played in the 2017 GIO Cup National Final are front rower Geordie Brand, left second rower Laz Sua and lock Brock Hamill.

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Coming through the junior ranks on the Gold Coast for Runaway Bay and Keebra Park Tannah Boyd always stood out as a classy player and even after leading Keeba Park in Queensland and Australian GIO Cup success against Marsden and Westfield Sports High respectively, Tannah Boyd still probably had not received the recognition that he deserved.

It was not until Tannah Boyd starred at five eight for the Australian School Boys side in their 40 – 8 win against the New Zealand U18 side in late 2017 that many more people sat up and took notice. That afternoon Tannah Boyd was clearly the best player on the field on his way to scoring a double as well as recording four try assists. When you throw in three kicks where New Zealand were trapped in their own in goal, Tannah Boyd had one heck of a match.

Less than a year later Tannah Boyd had made his Queensland Cup debut and less than two years later he made his NRL debut for the Titans.

Tannah Boyd’s first try for the Australian School Boys side came early in the second half, being the 59th minute. After taking the ball on the right side of the field thirty metres out, Tannah Boyd dummied to a runner coming back inside before veering outside the New Zealand five eight and sprinting the remaining distance in dive over in the left corner.

Tannah Boyd scored his second try in the 69th minute when he on hand to take an off-load fourteen metres out from the New Zealand line on the right side of the field. Tannah Boyf double pumped to his right and slicing through a gap to score mid-way between the right goal post and the right corner post.

Tannah Boyd’s first try assist came in the 27th minute of the match. Operating on the right, Tannah Boyd, using a right foot step thirty five metres out from the line before drawing the fullback to send Campbell Graham away to score.

Tannah Boyd’s second try assist came just six minutes later being in the 33rd minute when he produced a run around on the right of the field before throwing a flat pass to David Fifita to barge his way over.

In the 54th minute Tannah Boyd made it three try assists when he once again, after a run over sliced through from twenty metres out before drawing the New Zealand fullbackand throwing an onside pass to David Fifita to score under the posts.

Tannah Boyd’s fourth a final try assist of the match resulted from a Tannah Boyd right foot grubber which he aimed at the righ goal post from the left side of the field. The kick was weighted perfectly for 2020 Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup recruit Jeese Cronin to run through the collect the ball and score under the posts.

To add to his outstanding match, on three occasions Tannah Boyd produced well weighted kicks which trapped the New Zealanders in their own in goal. These kicks occurred in the 56th, 67th and 80th minutes. The kick in the 56th minute was particularly impressive. Tannah Boyd received the ball from the dummy half to the right fifty two metres out from the New Zealand line, putting in a long right foot kick which pulled up two metres inside the in goal area and a metre from the the left in goal. Impressively Tannah Boyd was the first Australian down field to force the New Zealand fullback back into his in goal area.

Tannah Boyd to other kicks where attacking kicks with the one in the 67th minute kicked along the ground from eighteen metres out and the 80th minute kick also along the ground from around eight metres out to trap New Zealand

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One player that I am sure is looking forward to get back on the field to showcase what he can do is Jack Glossop.

The former North Queensland Cowboys NYC and Townsville Blackhawks front rower/lock was set to line up for the Tweed Heads Seagulls Queensland Cup side in 2020 after arriving from North Queensland.

Jack Glossop’s first official hit out of the 2020 season came when he started from the bench for the Seagulls in their Queensland Cup trial win over the Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun in mid-February.

Jack Glossop also started in the front row for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears and was named on an extended bench for Round One of the 2020 Queensland Cup competition but ultimately did not make the final Tweed Heads Seventeen for the match.

Jack Glossop has been on the radar of NRL clubs since he was just 15, Jack Glossop at that age was part of both the North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Bronco’s Development programs but ultimately made the decision to sign with the Cowboys, moving to Townsville once the former Gladstone Valley’s junior finished his schooling at St Brendon’s Yeppoon.

In 2019 Jack Glossop was part of the Townsville Blackhawks Queensland Cup but did not make his debut, he was however named to start from the bench in Round Seventeen but ultimately did not make his debut.

In 2018 Jack Glossop played in the Hastings Deering’s Colt’s competition for Townsville playing in the Blackhawks first eleven matches before missing the remainder of the season. In his eleven matches Jack Glossop scored four tries including a Round Two double against Ipswich and also scored in Round One against the Mackay Cutters and Round Eight against the Victoria Thunder.

Jack Glossop started seven of his 2018 Colts matches at lock, one in the front row, being Round Eleven against Wynnum Manly and the remainder from the interchange bench.

In 2017 Jack Glossop was part of the North Queensland Cowboys NYC squad, making his debut in Round Two against Manly, starting from the bench and scoring on debut as well as being named the Cowboys best.

In total in the NYC competition in 2017 Jack Glossop played in sixteen matches, starting fourteen off the bench including their Week One Finals loss to Manly. Jack Glossop made his first NYC start when he started at lock in Round Eight against the Newcastle Knights and also started at lock in Round Nine.

In 2015 and 2016 Jack Glossop was part of the Townsville Blackhawks MM Cup squad’s and in 2016 was also part of the Blackhawks squad that took on the Penrith Panthers in the U18 National Final

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One of the new players to the Gold Coast that I was looking forward to seeing in 2020 (and thankfully that may happen at least in the Gold Coast Rugby League First Grade competition) was Ethan O’Neill.

Prior to his move to up Tweed Heads from Sydney to play for the Seagulls 2020 Queensland Cup side the former Marcellin College Randwick student spent five years in the Sydney Roosters junior system, playing the 2019 season in the NSWRL U20 Jersey Flegg competition.

Ethan O’Neill started from the bench for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears.

From a trivia perspective, Ethan O’Neill is the son of former Brisbane Bronco’s and Queensland State of Origin fullback, Julian O’Neill.

For the Roosters in 2019, Ethan O’Neill played in twelve Jersey Flegg matches starting the season in the centres before moving to the second row in Round Twenty Two against the New Zealand Warriors and staying there for Round Twenty Four against the Rabbitohs.

Ethan O’Neill started the 2019 season off as the Roosters primary goal kicker, kicking seventeen from twenty (85% conversions rate) through the opening six rounds, before injury, including a six from seven effort in Round Two against the Manly Sea Eagles. Ethan O’Neill returned from injury in Round Fifteen against the Sea Eagles but did not take back the goal kicking duties upon his return.

Ethan O’Neill scored in Round Three against the Parramatta Eels and also scored in Round Twenty Two against the Warriors to account for his two 2019 Jersey Flegg tries.

In 2018 Ethan O’Neill was only able to play in one U20 Jersey Flegg match for the Roosters when he started in the second row in Round Eight against the Mounties.

In 2017 Ethan O’Neill started in all eleven of the Roosters U18 SG Ball matches, starting the eight regular season rounds in the second row before starting the Roosters three finals matches in the centres including their Preliminary Final loss to the Parramatta Eels. Ethan O’Neill’s sole try of the 2017 SG Ball season came in Round Eight against the Newcastle Knights.

Ethan O’Neill’s first season in the U18 SG Ball competition was in 2016 when he played in five matches for the Roosters coming into the side on the bench in Round Three against the West Coast Pirates.

Ethan O’Neill started on the wing in Round Five against St George scoring his first career SG Ball try before moving to the centres for Round Seven against the Centurions and Round Eight against the Magpies when he scored his second try of the season. Ethan O’Neill’s third 2016 came in Round Ten when he scored after coming off the bench in Round Ten against the Parramatta Eels.

Ethan O’Neill’s first season at the Roosters was in 2015 when he was part of their U16 Harold Matthews squad playing in all nine of the Roosters matches starting four in the second row including Round One against Parramatta one at lock (Round Three against the Raiders), Round Five against the Steelers on the wing and one in the centres in Round Seven against the Rabbitohs.

In those nine matches Ethan O’Neill crossed for five tries including a Round Three double against the Raiders and also scored in Round Six against Penrith, Round Eights against the Wests Tigers and Round Nine against the Norths Sydney Bears.

In a fascinating situation in 2015 Ethan O’Neill has named in the centres for both the Queensland and New South Wales U16 side for their match against each other.

Of course Ethan O’Neill also had a very impressive school boy rugby league career with Marcellin College Randwick including in 2015 leading Marcellin College Randwick to a win in the New South Wales Combined Catholic College Grand Final

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When the Gold Coast Rugby League season hopefully starts in July it will be great to see Brock Hamill back playing on the Gold Coast as he lines up for the Southport Tigers, his junior club.

a young local red headed backrower originally from the Southport Tigers rugby league club and also played for Keebra Park in relation to his schoolboy football and for Burleigh in the MM Cup competition. At the U13 level a number of seasons ago Brock Hamill also played a game or two for the Titans Development Squads at Redlands.

Brock Hamill started from the bench for the Tweed Heads A Grade side in their late February 2020 trial against the Burleigh Bears.

In 2019 Brock Hamill played nine matches for the Bulldogs in the Jersey Flegg competition starting in the front row in Round two against the Parramatta Eels. Brock Hamill also started in Rounds Three and Four when he started at lock against the Wests Tigers and North Sydney Bears respectively. Brock Hamill’s remaining matches were from the bench including the Bulldogs two 2019 finals which were against the Knights and Roosters.

Also in 2019 Brock Hamill played fourteen matches for the Moorebank Rams in the Sydney Shield competition coming into the side in Round Six when he started at hooker against the Bulls. Brock Hamill started his first three 2019 Sydney Shield matches at hooker before starting at lock in Round Eleven against the BR Eagles.

In total Brock Hamill started four in his eleven matches at hooker, nine at lock, including Week Two of the Finals against the Saints and one being Round Nineteen against the Bulls from the bench.

Brock Hamill had a great start to the 2019 Sydney Shield competition scoring in his first four matches including a Round Eleven double against the BR Eagles. His Round Six, Seven and Eight tries were against the Bulls, Owls and Magpies.

In 2018 Brock Hamill was diagnosed with cancer but before his treatment started Brock Hamill made his debut off the bench for the Bulldogs Jersey Flegg side scoring a double against Manly.

From Keebra Park Brock Hamill represented South Coast at the U18 level in 2016 and 2017and in 2017 was selected in the Queensland School boy’s side for the Australian School boys Championships. South Coast won every match by more than 40 points including beating Met North 74 – 4 in the final.

Brock Hamill has also been a key part of the Keebra Park Open side that won the GIO Cup in 2017 including being part of the Keebra Park side that won their Queensland semi-final over the The Cathedral College 74 – 0.

For the Burleigh Bears MM Cup side in 2017, Brock Hamill started in all six of their matches starting Rounds One and Two in the second row, Round Three in the front row and Rounds Four to Six at lock.

Brock Hamill played his club rugby league for the Southport Tigers primarily at the U19 level in 2017 but also played two matches in the Doug Lipp Cup competition, making his debut in that competition in April against Burleigh with his other Doug Lipp Cup match coming in June against Bilambil. In the U19 competition, Brock Hamill to date has played in seven matches, scoring doubles against Runaway Bay and Burleigh and in his first match of the season in that age group scored against Mudgeeraba.

In 2017 Brock Hamill was a stand out for the Keebra Park Open Rugby League side in their great GIO Cup run. Brock Hamill started at lock for Keebra Park in their Queensland GIO Cup Final win over Marsden State High School and also started at lock in Keebra Park’s 25 – 12 National GIO Cup Final victory over Westfield Sports High.

Brock Hamill made an immediate impact in the National Final. Keebra Park kicked off and the Westfield front rower charged directly at Brock Hamill who hit him with a superb left choulder tackle to put the front rower on his back. It was a tackle that set the tone for the remainder of the match.

Post the 2017 season Brock Hamill was understandably named at lock in the Keebra Park Rugby League 2017 Team of the Year.

Over the course of his junior career, Brock Hamill made a number of junior representative sides including U13 and U14 Gold Coast Vikings squads and represented South Coast at the U15 level. Brock Hamill was also named in the U18 South Coast squad for the 2017 U18 QSSRL championships, along with five other Keebra Park team mates.